There are always opportunities for innovation
These days, if you follow the news, it is a
lot of doom and gloom. Hurricane Sandy, earthquakes, Syrian war, rising numbers
of unemployment etc. It is easy to be influenced by this kind of news. Therefor
I do recommend spending a minimal amount of time following this negative news.
And then you can use the ‘extra’ time to discover inspiring news. There are
many blogs, videos, and podcasts, articles that emphasize positive and
innovative news.
These circumstances provide a good breeding
ground for new innovations. Please bear in mind that most innovations start at
the edge and not at the center of most activities. It is hard to be innovative
if you follow the pack. For example, I just listened to an interview with
someone from Aurora pens and he said that the focus on standardization (in his
case pc’s tablets, phones) gives him the opportunity to specialize in a niche
area (nice writing instruments). He even mentioned a research that some schools
in Italy are having their kids use fountain pens, as this improves their
learning capability!
It is an interesting approach to do the
opposite of what is at the center, e.g.
Center Edge
- standardization - tailoring
- fashion colors are mild - colors are
extreme
- eat as much as you can - eat as healthy
as you can
- attain more goods - have great experiences
- use plastics - use natural
materials
You can go on and on with this approach.
And it works, there are always customers who want to feel special and who have
special needs. It is also easier to be successful at the edge than trying to
innovate from the core.
What inspires you, today?
Enthusiasm drives Excellence!
